An interview with Nightmares Billy Maggard!

Who are you playing with in 2019, and who have you played with in the past?2019 – Nightmare Past – Nightmare, Buzini, FBI, Combat

What positions do you play and what is your best position?3rd, 2nd, Catcher and Pitcher – Best position is catcher because I can sit back and heckle everyone, not to mention I remember where everyone has hit the ball to try and throw them off.

Who is the best softball player you have ever seen play?Bryson baker a few years back all around Kyle Pearson currently the best hitter Ben Dunn currently the best outfielder Tommy Melton currently best infielder Purcell best pitcher

Why do you like the game of softball?The people we meet along the way, I have met some of my best friends all because of the game and you can't leave out getting the chance to play a game I love while traveling around the country.

Who is the best up and coming player in softball and why?Conner Murray – super underrated and will make a good splash soon

Phil Matte absolutely murders the ball – except at the major when i'm pitching, guy likes watching perfect strikes come by and walking back to dugout!!!

What is your nickname in softball and how did you get it?Mac10 – long story 66 Wild Bill Rattlesnake Serial Killer

What is your height and weight?6ft 215

Where do you call home?Spring, TX

What's your favorite way to spend an off weekend?Drinking and hunting

What do you do for a living?Operations Manager and soon to be owner of a Servpro franchise

Did you play sports in High School / College / Pro?Ran Cross Country lol

How did you get your start in softball and how did you get to the upper level?Took it up as my dad played a lot around town in drunken leagues and tournaments. Sr has larger fan base at some and apparently on the road at conference events than myself.

Tockey got me an invite/tryout with Fence Brokers at ASA Super/A one year. Played a great middle and hit well. A few months later they invited me to another ASA event where I did well again. Zack Keene messaged me asking why I didn't play full time and my response was I have gotten the invite. 10 minutes later Wilson was calling asking me to commit full time.

What was the most surprising difference between Conference play and non-Conference play when you made the jump?Bat testing which helps but isn't bulletproof not playing the same 4-6 team every weekend a lot less shit talking people understand and know the middle is part of the game – does it cause issues sometimes yes but its expected at conference level consistency of umpiring SPORTSMANSHIP – yes tempers flare and there are issues and fights but the game on and off the field is played with a lot more respect at that level

Is there a player that you would compare your game to?Jeff Wallace hands down – hit it as hard as you can through someone even if its the middle, its part of the game. I'm just a hard nosed no fucks given person on the field, friends or not while on the field I wanna win!!! We can have drinks afterwards.

What would you say is your career highlight to this point? Maybe one play or game that sticks out to you in particular?2013 King Seat game at B worlds – I was having a very hot weekend with the bat, didn't matter the situation base hit or bomb I was locked in. There was complaining about a particular bat I had, it was taken twice and tested, both times it passed at 250ish. 5th or 6th inning with bases loaded I pulled the bat out in question, put it to the side, grabbed another bat and pointed out to Donald Munford that I was using a different bat. SS at time told Cam to walk me instead of pitching, 2nd pitch I hit one that cleared the lights in seconds sealing the deal on the game. May or may not have tossed the bat towards Munford saying test that bat too!!!

In your career was there a single person (player/manager/coach) who had the most significant impact on your approach to the game? Why?I have been fortunate enough to have some really good coaches, Wilson, Barnes, Big Willy, NYB, Gentry, Hector and Wallace.

Younger non conference days Big Willy Whittington and NYB for sure, they always held me to a higher standard than everyone else while also setting me straight during my not so smart younger days – I still hold a grudge on them that I was never given a single a single all tournament or MVP do to their claim of me knowing I deserved it. LOL

Conference – I have had some good ones but the most inspiring one was Jeff Wallace – also told me no matter what hit it hard, hit it through someone and had my back at all times. Not to mention the dude loved busting my balls!!!

What advice can you give a young player trying to break into the upper level?Play hard, ALWAYS run everything out and hustle, one beating throw or bobble at this level can turn into 3-10 runs for your team in an instant. If you are coming in as a role player stick it out and put the work in to shine when you get the chance.

Don't be the guy on 4-5 roster a year. Stability and loyalty go a long way to the people that really keep up with the game.

What type of batting grip do you use and what ounce bat?Normal grip with my left pointer finger sticking out at times, weird as can be and I catch myself getting in the box like WTF?? use to swing 30oz but those bats are very limited so i'm down to a 28oz endload

What do you do in the offseason to prepare for the next softball season?I like to take October, November and December off from the game, give myself time to relax and not get to the point where i'm tired of it. Go hunting and enjoy some me time, may play 1 time a week to keep myself active. Come January its cardio, gym and 2-3 times a week of hitting to prepare myself for the season

What is your favorite sports team and your favorite sport other than softball?Houston Astros by far – I keep up with but don't care for basketball and football like I did growing up. Those sports have changed so much its unreal

Favorite sport to watch in person is fast pitch softball – the action and speed of the games are unreal – yes there are some dominate pitchers in the game but not very many that just retire the side without a ball being put in play.

Do you have any superstitions and if so, what are they?none really – great friend/father figure has always told me you either got it or you don't!!!

What would be your at bat music selection?Slippery – Gucci Mane

What is the best improvement upper level softball could make?Will never happen but teams to be a little more equal – I don't have the answer on how, being that it is funded by some many different people I doubt it would ever happen.

Also play calling to be equal, people will argue but the big named team get a majority of the calls and are favored when they already have the upper hand

What is your favorite non-World tournament and why?Tripp Roth – awesome 4+ hour derby Great atmosphere – getting better and better every year Steve Mclin who is from the area always puts a great team who has won it almost every year together – we have Tripps father who helps play a few games with us Unreal cause for something that a brave little boy battled and stayed with a smile on his face until the end Richie Soley the director for Louisiana Hosts the event and goes well out of his way to make it competitive, fun, goes out of his way to bring the out of town team and brings big name players in to give his home state some experience.

What is the best softball field/complex you have played at and why?OKC – ASA as those are top notch fields they prepare for after every game Disney as the fields are great and atmosphere is unreal Fortune Road – good size and played well/tough in the heat Kissimmee, Fl – what use to be the old spring training for the Astros

Not a big fan of turf fields, I believe it makes infielders who are average or below become well above average. At the same time I do see where it makes people become better hitters.

Where is the best place to eat on the road after a game?Texas Road house – Especially at the Smoky with Tommy Melton BWW – can't beat good wings and drinks after games

What is the funniest thing you have ever seen on a softball field?Evan Gallmeier play the outfield at night last year at Texas Winter Worlds – every time the ball was hit he ran the opposite direction of the ball for some reason.

Team I was on once had a huge debate/fall out over uniforms and matching – because I don't care what we wear I just want to play and win, I showed up to a tournament and wore a black hefty trash bag with holes cut out for my head and arms.

Tell us something about you that most would never know about you?As slow as I am now, I once ran a 5k in 15:05 and ran a 47 second 400 in high school

What was your favorite sports related gift you have ever given or received?2 USSSA world rings USSSA World MVP Tripp Roth Derby bat – had to earn it but got 2nd a few times – one of the best non conference events you can go to

2014 Interview

Who are you playing with in 2014?Slattery Logistics/BWW/Buzini/Miken

What positions do you play and what is your best position?Probably every position in the infield at some point in time Middle and/Or 2nd base would be my choice

Who is the best softball player you have ever seen play?Bryson Baker and Brian Wegman, both of these guys are flat out great on both sides of the field.

Why do you like the game of softball?#1 would have to be for the competition, its always a blast to travel and play against some of the best talent from other parts of the country. #2 would be the people you meet along the way, there are some bad ones, but for the most part you meet a lot of respectable and good quality people.

Who is the best up and coming player in softball and why?Ben Dunn, Brady Bascle and Stuart Snell

Ben in my opinion is one of the top 3 outfielders in the country, if I can just get him to hit he will take himself to any team he wants to play on.

Brady Bascle is also young an just starting to see how good he can be, guy has incredible talent and works his butt off to improve all the time.

Stuart Snell not much to say other than the guy is pretty big and absolutely crushes the ball. For some reason he still hates me because he is from Arkansas and I played with the Fence Brokers and he didn't. LOL.

What is your nickname in softball and how did you get it?"Rattle snake" – Fence Brokers Mac or 66's – Around Houston Serial Killer – According to Fernando form Mississippi Bonding

What is your height and weight?6 ft Recently dropped to 205lbs was 248 through mid season last year."

Where do you call home?Conroe, Texas – just north of crowded Houston

What's your favorite way to spend an off weekend?If I could have it my way I would go hunting every weekend, unfortunately they usually have me working to make up for lost softball days.

What do you do for a living?Operations Manager for Servpro

Did you play sports in High School / College / Pro?Ran Cross Country in high school Started working and playing slowpitch the day after graduation

How did you get your start in softball and how did you get to the upper level?I started playing locally when I was 17 years old with my dad at Slowpitch City. In 2010 Fence Brokers were looking for someone to help them out in the ASA "A", Dwayne Tockey recommended me to Wilson to come out and help them out. From there on I have somehow managed to stay in the upper ball level.

What was the most surprising difference between Conference play and non-Conference play when you made the jump?#1 the amount of good quality people you meet, you still have a few of people just looking for a free ride. Over all you have guys who leave their families and work to come out and play ball hard and the right way. I enjoy that so much because that's how I am.

#2 when someone hits the middle most of the time nothing is said. Where i'm from if you hit the middle everyone wants to fight or cry. I see it as part of the game and that's what it appears that most teams and pitchers in the conference see it as.

#3 Strike zone and consistency – conference seems to he a lot more consistent and call good strikes, they don't give the 35mph 2ft pitch that the local umpires give.

What would you say is your career highlight to this point? Maybe one play or game that sticks out to you in particular?Winning B worlds and being fortunate enough to receive the MVP as well.

In your career was there a single person (player/manager/coach) who had the most significant impact on your approach to the game? Why?NY Bill – always riding me to be the best and do the best, never lets any little mistake get by me without throwing it in my face so that I could correct it if it happens again. Plus he a HUGE believer in the softball gods coming back to get you.

Kenny Scobee- talked me into swinging a heavier bas which has helped with power and control. It has taken a long time but he showed me how important it was to swing at a strike.

What advice can you give a young player trying to break into the upper level?Play the game right and practice practice

What type of batting grip do you use and what ounce bat?standard grip with a pinkie over the end 30oz Endload

What do you do in the offseason to prepare for the next softball season?Crossfit, lifting weights, BP and counting down the days until the Space City and the start of our season

What is your favorite sports team and your favorite sport other than softball?Houston Texans

Do you have any superstitions and if so, what are they?Not really a superstition but swing hard incase you hit it.

What is the best improvement upper level softball could make?Locally it would be making everyone stop playing E and D. Tired of seeing 100 E and D teams at a tournament and only 6 C teams. I wish they could figure a way to stop letting everyone fold their teams and start a new one with 8 of the same 10 guys and dropping down a class.

As far as the conference level it would be nice to have a few more conference umpires that are good and can travel. You never know what your going to get your first 2-4 games with some of the local umpires.

What is your favorite non-World tournament and why?TOC in Little Rock. Played it twice and the atmosphere and knowing that if we didn't win Walker might shoot one of us makes it a blast.

What is the best softball field/complex you have played at and why?Hall of Fame Stadium and Disney Stadium Fields are kept in perfect condition, they can't get any nicer than that.

Where is the best place to eat on the road after a game?Any type of Mexican food, people give me a hard time because I absolutely destroy chips and queso. If I can't get Mexican then Texas Road House for steak and ribs…

Tell us something about you that most would never know about you?When I was 7 years old my dad jokingly asked me to pull my moms standard shift car out of the garage so he could wash it. I took him serious and decided to do it, instead of putting it in reverse I put it in 4th and popped the clutch. Just so happens that the utility room was about 1ft away from the car, after plowing through that my dad came out side yelling at me like never before. He scared me so bad I pissed my pants!!!! there yall go and i'm sure I will never live this down now.

What is the funniest thing you have ever seen on a softball field?This is the funniest when you watch the video afterwards but ended up costing us 65 points in the conference which ultimately could have got us a better draw at the major.

The famous collision with Buckshot and myself at the space city major. This pretty much cost us the King seat game as it would have ended the game. Buck will never admit it but I called the bag as I had to cover it the game before because he got hit. Long story short we collided and the umpire called it safe, if you watch it in slow motion you will see Buckshot caught the ball and touched the bag. The collision was priceless but the end result wasn't.

The way I saw that play: I was covering second (NEW GUY Billy Maggard playing 2nd), the ball was thrown to me, I caught it AND yes, touched the bag at the same time… Lol Then, for some reason, there was a Mack truck that flipped me! Lmao We only played a short time together, but one of the best teammates I’ve ever had. Good luck this year.